From Luther (or Fredrick the Great, Bismarck)
to
Hitler Germans are evil
Lord Vansittart (1941): Roots of Trouble: The Black
Record of Germany Past, Present and Future Hitler himself advocated this view!
William Shirer, Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (1959)
justification for unconditional surrender & long
occupation
Marxist/modernization theory: "belated" unification and industrialization
Hans-Ulrich Wehler (1973): "the defense of inherited
ruling positions by pre-industrial elites against the onslaught of new
forces"
failed democratic revolution in 1848
bourgeoisie coopted by unification of 1871
failed revolution in 1918
persistance of "traditional" elites (Prussian junkers,
military, bureaucracy)
need for institutional reform, as in 1949 founding
a) German historians, 1945: Betriebsunfall="driving/factory
accident"
Germany highly cultured throughout its history
a kind of temporary insanity: things went wrong 1931-33
no need for a long occupation of defeated Germany b) Fritz Fischer (1962), Germany's Grasp for World
Power in World War I
primacy of domestic politics in starting WWI: distract
the workers
economic determinants of politics systemic reasons
Punch, 1913: Once the land of poets, seekers and
sages
Who enchant us with their deathless pages
Now the Prussian Junker, blind with fury
Claims to be God's counsel, judge and jury.